Six By Seven - The Closer You Get
by Dave Goodwin
published: 17 / 3 / 2017
Label:
Select Label
Format: N/A
intro
Dave Goodwin reflects on Nottingham-based post punks Six by Seven's 2000 second album 'The Closer You Get' which has just been released on vinyl along with their' Peel Sessions' and also on CD a new 'Greatest Hits' compilation
Six by Seven must be Nottingham's biggest secret. The city that has spawned the likes of Torvill & Dean, Jake Bugg, Sue Pollard and the world's oldest football team is also home to one of Britain's best bands. Originally formed in 1992, Six by Seven performed their first show at the Old Angel pub in Nottingham in late 1992. The band released their 1998 debut album,'The Things We Make', after which they began headlining their own shows, as well as touring with Ash, the Manic Street Preachers, the Dandy Warhols, and Placebo. They eventually got their big break whilst playing support slots for Rocket from the Crypt and Girls Against Boys. The name Six by Seven was taken from the research connected with the Hubble Space Telescope. They gained respectable recognition and even made an appearance on Jools Holland's 'Later...' show. The dark pyschedelic post-punks went on after 'The Things We Make' to release six more albums, the much acclaimed 'The Closer You Get' (2000), 'The Way I Feel Today' (2002), '04' (2004), 'Artists Cannibals Poets Thieves' (2005), 'If Symptoms Persist, Kill Your Doctor' (2007) and 'Love and Peace and Sympathy' (2013). Mainstream success, however, eluded them and they lost their major record deal with Beggars Banquet after '04'. Since 2005 they have broken up and got back together on several occasions in different line-ups centered around vocalist and guitarist Chris Olley and keyboardist James Flower. In early March they temporarily reformed in their original line-up, which as well as Olley and Flower, consists of Sam Hempton (guitar), Paul Douglas (bass) and Chris Davis (drums). To coincide with this 'The Closer You Get' has also been re-released on double vinyl. It is on the first disc which also includes eight tracks from the band's 'Peel Sessions 'on the second disc. The package is also backed up by on CD a new 'Greatest Hits' compilation, which is comprised of fan favourites and tracks from most of their albums. 'The Closer You Get' was recorded at The Square Centre in Nottingham with Ric Peet and John Leckie, the latter of whom has also worked with Radiohead and Simple Minds, and was released in 2000 just before they played Glastonbury. This will appeal to the hoards of Six by Seven fans but, if you haven't heard any of the band's material and are looking for a glimpse with a view to exploring more, this is a great option. And now that 'The Closer You Get' is on the lovely black wax it sounds better than ever.
Track Listing:-
Band Links:-
https://www.chrisolley.com/https://en-gb.facebook.com/sixbyseven/
https://twitter.com/ChrisOlley1
https://chrisolley.wordpress.com/
https://sixbyseven.bandcamp.com/
Picture Gallery:-
interviews |
Interview (2017) |
Chris Olley from psychedelic post-punks Six By Seven speaks to Denzil Watson about their reformation in their original line-up for two shows in Nottingham and London and the vinyl reissue of their classic 2000 album 'The Closer You Get' |
Interview (2012) |
Interview (2005) |
Interview (2002) |
live reviews |
Sheffield Leadmill, 23/11/2002 |
Despite recently being dropped by Mantra Records, shortly after releasing their critically acclaimed third album, 'The Way I Feel Today', Six by Seven have lost none of their passion.. Denzil Watson catches them in intense form at the Sheffield Leadmill |
reviews |
Love and Peace and Sympathy (2013) |
Melancholic but immense-in-sound and powerful comeback album from Nottingham-based space rockers/punks, Six by Seven |
Club Sandwich At The Peveril Hotel (2006) |
Artists, Cannibals, Poets, Thieves (2005) |
All My New Best Friends (2002) |
The Way I Feel Today (2002) |
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.Adrian Gurlitz - Interview
Wreckless Eric - Interview
Chris Spedding - Interview
John Mayall - 1933-2024
Dennis Tufano - Copernicus Center, Chicago, 19/7/2024
Anita Pallenberg - The Story of Anita Pallenberg
Norman Rodger - Interview
Penumbra - Interview
Autumn 1904 - With The Normans and Eve Davidson, The Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh, 1/11/2024
previous editions
One Thousand Violins - InterviewNerve - Interview
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #5 - ‘We all have good intentions/ But all with strings attached’: Music and Mental Health Part 2
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EP
Oasis - Oasis, Earl's Court, London, 1995
Bathers - Interview
TV Smith - Interview
Echo And The Bunnymen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Edwin Starr Band - Interview With Angelo Starr
Sound - Interview with Bi Marshall Part 1
most viewed reviews
current edition
Groovy Uncle - Making ExcusesJules Winchester - The Journey
Ross Couper Band - The Homeroad
Hawkestrel - Chaos Rocks
Bill Wyman - Drive My Car
Popstar - Obscene
Richard Hawley - In This City You Call Love
Deep Purple - =1
John Murry and Michael Timmins - A Little Bit of Grace and Decay
GaBlé - PIck the Weak
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart